Addis Ababa University

College of Social Sciences

Department of Geography and Environmental

Studies

Course outline for the Course Geography of Ethiopia and the Horn
(GeES: 1011)

Module Code: GeES: 1011

Contact Person: Dr. Goitom Abraha
Position: Assistant Professor, Ethiopian Civil
Service University
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 09 80 18 87 45
 1. GENERAL DATA
Course Number GeES: 1011
Course Title Geography of Ethiopia and the Horn
Course Description The Geography of Ethiopia and the Horn is intended to familiarize students with the
basic geographic concepts particularly in relation to Ethiopia
and the Horn of Africa. It is also meant to provide students a sense of place and time
(geographic literacy) that are pivotal in producing knowledgeable and competent
citizens who are able to comprehend and analyze spatial problems and contribute to
their solutions.
The course provides an opportunity for the reader to understand the implications of
the location, shape and size of Ethiopia, as well as the country’s physical and human
resources diversity and abundance on its socioeconomic development.
The course consists of four parts. The first part provides a brief description on the
location, shape and size of Ethiopia as well as basic skills of reading maps. Part two
introduces the physical background and natural resource endowment of Ethiopia and
the Horn which includes its geology and mineral resources, topography, climate,
drainage and water resources, soil, fauna and flora. The third part of the course
focuses on the demographic characteristics of the country and its implications on
economic development. The fourth component of the course offers treatment of the
various economic activities of Ethiopia and the Horn which include agriculture,
manufacturing and the service sectors. Moreover, Ethiopia in a globalizing world is
treated in the perspectives of the pros and cons of globalization on its natural
resources, population and socio-economic conditions.
1.1 ASSESSMENT The examination will be done in the form of written exam and may include exam
types like multiple choice, essays, work out and so on. The weight breakdown of the
assessment method is as follows:
1. Mid-Exam- 30 Marks
2. Final Exam- 70 Marks
3. Total-100 Marks

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1. Geography: Definition, Scope and Themes
1.1.1. Meaning of Geography
1.1.2. The Scope, Approaches and Themes of Geography
1.2. Location, Shape and Size of Ethiopia and the Horn
1.2.1. Location of Ethiopia
1.2.2. Size of Ethiopia
1.2.3. The shape of Ethiopia and its implication

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1.3. Basic Skills of Map Reading
CHAPTER TWO: THE GEOLOGY OF ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN
2.1. Introduction
2.2. The Geologic Processes: Endogenic and Exogenic Forces
2.3. The Geological Time Scale and Age Dating Techniques
2.4. Geological Processes and the Resulting Landforms of Ethiopia and the Horn
2.4.1. The Precambrian Era geologic processes (4.5 billion - 600 million years ago)
2.4.2. The Paleozoic Era geologic processes (600 million - 225 million years ago)
2.4.3. The Mesozoic Era geologic processes (225-70 million years ago)
2.4.4. The Cenozoic Era geologic processes (70 million years ago - Present)
2.5. Rock and Mineral Resources of Ethiopia
2.5.1. Brief facts and current state of main minerals in Ethiopia
2.5.2. Mineral potential sites of Ethiopia
CHAPTER THREE: THE TOPOGRAPHY OF ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN Error:
Reference source not found
3.1. Introduction
3.2. The Physiographic Divisions of Ethiopia
3.2.1. The western highlands and lowlands
3.2.2. The southeastern highlands and lowlands
3.2.3. The Rift Valley
3.3. The Impacts of Relief on Biophysical and Socioeconomic Conditions

CHAPTER FOUR: DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND WATER RESOURCE OF ETHIOPIA AND

THE HORN
4.1. Introduction
4.2. Major Drainage System of Ethiopia
4.2.1. The western drainage system
4.2.2. The southeastern drainage system
4.2.3. The Rift Valley drainage system
4.3. Water Resources: Rivers, Lakes and Sub-Surface Water
4.3.1. The Ethiopian rivers
4.3.2. The Ethiopian lakes
4.3.3. Subsurface (ground) water resource of Ethiopia
4.4. Water Resources Potentials and Development in Ethiopia
CHAPTER FIVE: THE CLIMATE OF ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN
5.1 Introduction
5.2. Elements and Controls of Weather and Climate
5.3. Spatiotemporal Patterns and Distribution of Temperature and Rainfall in Ethiopia
5.3.1 Spatiotemporal distribution of temperature
5.3.2. Spatiotemporal distribution of rainfall
5.4. Agro-ecological Zones of Ethiopia
5.5. Climate Change/Global Warming: Causes, Consequences and Response Mechanisms
5.5.1. Current Trends of Climate Change in Ethiopia
5.5.2. Causes of Climate Change
5.5.3. Consequences of Climate Change
5.5.4. Climate Response Mechanisms

CHAPTER SIX: SOILS, NATURAL VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES OF

ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN
6.1. Introduction
6.2. Ethiopian Soils: Types, Degradation and Conservation

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 6.2.1. Introduction
6.2.2. Major soil types in Ethiopia
6.2.3. Soil degradation
6.2.4. Soil erosion control measures
6.3. Natural Vegetation of Ethiopia
6.3.1. Introduction
6.3.2. Major vegetation types of Ethiopia Error: Reference source not found
6.3.2. Natural vegetation degradation
6.3.2. Natural vegetation conservation
6.4. Wild Life/Wild Animals in Ethiopia
6.4.1. Introduction
6.4.2. Wildlife conservation \
6.4.3. Challenges of wild life conservation in Ethiopia
CHAPTER SEVEN: POPULATION OF ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN
7.1. Introduction
7.2. Population Data: Uses and Sources
7.3. Population Dynamics: Fertility, Mortality and Migration
7.3.1. Demographic Measurements
7.3.2. Levels and trends in fertility and mortality rates in Ethiopia
7.3.3. Migration in Ethiopia and the Horn
7.4. Age and Sex Structure of Ethiopian Population
7.5. Population Distribution in Ethiopia
7.5.1. Measures of population distribution
7.5.2. Factors affecting population distribution in Ethiopia
7.6. Socio-cultural Aspects of Ethiopian Population: Education, Health and Languages
7.6.1. Education
7.6.2. Health
7.6.3. Languages families and languages of Ethiopia
7.7. Settlement Types and Patterns
7.7.1. Types of Settlement
7.7.2. Urban Settlements and Urbanization in Ethiopia

CHAPTER EIGHT: ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN ETHIOPIA

8.1. Introduction
8.2. Mining Activity in Ethiopia
8.2.1. Introduction
8.2.2. Status of miningl sector investment in Ethiopia
8.2.2. Importance of mining sector in Ethiopia
8.2.3. Environmental issues and management related to mining
8.3. Forestry
8.4. Fishery
8.4.1. Introduction
8.4.2. Fishing Grounds in Ethiopia
8.4.3 Demand and consumption of fish
8.4.4. Constraints and opportunities of the fishing sector
8.5. Agriculture in Ethiopia
8.5.1. Introduction
8.5.2. Contributions, potentials and characteristics of agriculture in Ethiopia
8.5.3. Agriculture systems in Ethiopia
8.5.4. Major problems of Ethiopian agriculture
8.6. Manufacturing Industry in Ethiopia

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 8.6.1. Introduction
8.6.2. Types, characteristics of manufacturing
8.6.3. The spatial distribution of manufacturing industries in Ethiopia
8.6.4. Industrial development in Ethiopia: Challenges and opportunities
8.7. The Service Sector in Ethiopia
8.7.1. Introduction
8.7.2. Transportation and communication in Ethiopia: types, roles and characteristics
8.7.3. Trade in Ethiopia
8.7.4. Tourism in Ethiopia: Types, tourist attraction sites, challenges and prospects

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